PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - he savage attack on the crowds viewing and participating in the Boston Marathon on Monday was a ruthless assault on innocents that will serve to remind all in authority in democratic nations that cowardly attacks on civilians remain the most potent weapon in the arsenal of terrorists.

Instead of the resounding endorsement they were hoping for in Sunday’s presidential election in Venezuela, allies of the late President Hugo Chávez got a message from the electorate_ Enough of Chavismo and the failed policies of “21st Century Socialism.”
The late president’s long-time political crony, interim President Nicolás Maduro, says he edged out opposition leader Henrique Capriles, but Mr. Capriles refuses to concede defeat and reasonably demands a recount.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana - The presidential elections in Venezuela indicate that the country, without the influence of former President Chávez’s extraordinary charisma and influence, remains essentially democratic in form and practice as it has tended to be since the end of the Jimenez dictatorship, with the polarization between the current two main parties now reaching extreme limits.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - IT HAS OFTEN BEEN SAID that democracy thrives in a turbulent climate. It is also true that for it to function effectively there will be winners and losers, who must accept the verdict and the will of the majority of the people.
The situation in Venezuela is the latest example of the difficulty that could arise where party leadership is not prepared to accept the results of an election which could plunge a country into chaos and economic instability. Ideology also plays a pivotal role in most situations.

KINGSTON, Jamaica - MR Nicolas Maduro, late President Hugo Chavez' choice to succeed him, was elected president of Venezuela on Monday by a very narrow margin. But his opponent, Mr Henrique Capriles has challenged the legitimacy of the result, claimed victory and called for a recount by hand of all paper ballots.
Although Mr Maduro publicly pledged to allow the recount, the electoral council has refused and is defending the integrity of the electoral process.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - WELL, the fierce battle to elect a successor to the late president Hugo Chavez is over.
However, a heavy cloud of uncertainty hangs over Venezuela amid official arrangements for Friday’s oath-taking ceremony of Nicolas Maduro as new Head of State of that influential oil-rich nation of the Greater Caribbean region.

ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – The Dominica government says it is looking forward to working with President –elect Nicholas Maduro as it welcomed his victory in Sunday’s presidential elections in Venezuela.
Acting Prime Minister Petter Saint Jean described the victory “as a fitting tribute to the fallen comrade, President Hugo Chavez.”

MIAMI, CMC - A new report says that the majority of Caribbean and other nationals detained for deportation in Miami-Dade County through a controversial US federal immigration enforcement programme are not dangerous criminals.
The conclusions of the 57-page report, “False Promises_ The Failure of Secure Communities in Miami-Dade County,” released here on Monday are at odds with the stated objectives of Secure Communities, the federal programme launched in 2008.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - The Caribbean Local Economic Development Project (Cariled) has a new programme directo. Alix Yule will direct the six year CIDA funded Local Economic Development (LED) project within 14 Caribbean countries.  She will first be based at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) headquarters in Ottawa, Canada. 

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Senior government officials are in the final leg of negotiations with Guatemalan officials to sign off on a Partial Scope Agreement. The T&T delegation includes senior officials of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment; the Customs and Excise Division of the Ministry of Finance and the Economy, Solicitor General Department, Ministry of Food Production, exporTT, Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association and Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce.